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there were difficulties over the storage of materials and the use of any machinery
was not possible. During the year the Council entered into an agreement with the
owners for the erection of a prefabricated hut for the Council's exclusive use as
storeroom and workshop and the use of this hut has overcome the storage problem
and enables several items of machinery to be introduced. The premises of the Princess
Louise centre in Deptford are most unsatisfactory. The Council have however
entered into negotiations for the exclusive hiring of modern accommodation of
facilities elsewhere in Deptford as a replacement centre. The number of patients
at the Princess Louise centre, which did not open until November, 1965 rose very
slowly but by the end of 1966 there were 25 on the roll of that centre and 35 on the
register of the Cambridge day centre. During the year 21 persons from the two
centres were able to move on to outside employment.
Domiciliary Occupational Therapy
A position of senior occupational therapist which had been vacant since the Council
assumed responsibility for mental health services was filled late in the year. The
officer appointed, who is a member of the mental health team provides occupational
therapy on medical recommendation for mentally ill persons in their own homes.
At the end of the year 11 persons were being helped in this way.
Social Clubs
Weekly meetings of the Tideway and Saville social clubs for mentally ill persons
continued throughout the year and a number of outings and visits to places of interest
and entertainments were arranged for the Club members. Each month a party of
patients from Bexley Hospital was entertained to a social evening with members of
the Tideway Club in Deptford. Altogether there were 25 persons on the register of
the Saville Club and 45 on that of the Tideway Club at the end of the year.
Psychiatric Advice
Monthly meetings were held of all available members of the mental health team
including hostel and day centre supervisory staff which were attended by psychiatrists
from Bexley and Cane Hill hospitals and these meetings proved most useful as a
forum for the discussion of particular and more general problems in relation to
mental illness and the general dissemination of information. Representatives of the
Children's and Welfare departments and a general practitioner who is visiting medical
officer to the Honor Lea Hostel also attended these meetings. A Psychiatric Liaison
Committee was set up during the year to meet at quarterly intervals and give advice
to the M.O.H. on policy matters and the planning of services. Membership of this
committee comprises the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, consultant psychiatrists
from Bexley and Cane Hill Hospitals, the visiting medical officer for the Honor Lea
hostel, a senior representative of the Welfare Department and senior members of
the mental health team.
All mental health officers who were available attended regular monthly case
conferences at Bexley Hospital.
Staff Training
Two mental health officers who were seconded to "Younghusband" courses in 1965
continued this full-time training throughout 1966, and in August an assistant supervisor
from the Deptford Training Centre commenced a year's whole-time course at
Durham Technical College leading to the Diploma of the Central Training Council
for Teachers of the Mentally Handicapped. Other courses attended during the year
by members of the mental health team included a refresher course for supervisory
staff of adult training centres (Supervisor of the Brockley Training Centre), British
Epilepsy Association Social Worker's Course (Assistant Principal Mental Health
Officer), National Association for Mental Health courses for hostel supervisory
staff (Warden of Honor Lea Hostel) and for staffs of special care units (Assistant
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